7A Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1.     Opportunity: I believe the University of Florida should have a musical therapy facility

2.     Musical therapy would be a great asset to the University of Florida because students tend to be constantly stressed out by academics, involvement, and personal life, and what better way to alleviate that stress than through something that’s so universal and connecting?

o   The who: Students at UF

o   The what: They desire to obtain some methods of stress relief

o   The why: In order to continue on with their endeavors, their physical, emotional, and mental health have to be in good conditions

3.     Testing the who: My targeted audience seems to be a good start, but I believe every postsecondary institute could invest in my opportunity. Thus, all college students may possess this need.

Testing the what: I understand that there a multitude of techniques in which people can destress, but I feel music is so powerful and will provide students with an experience that they’ve never had before.

Testing the why: Some people may oppose the idea and claim that students can just listen to music on their own. However, I know that individuals already do that naturally. I’m envisioning perhaps a facility with multiple rooms that provoke different vibes primarily based upon what emotions students are processing. In addition, some students are unaware of how significant self-care is. This would be a great way to educate them about how self-care impacts each individual and how to cope with stress caused by whatever reason(s).  

4.     Interviews

o   Wyatt – UF student: Wyatt is a Chemical Engineering student at UF. He has a very rigorous schedule and always finds himself being overwhelmed with his classes and involvement to the point where he can’t even find time to hang out with friends. His favorite genre of music is EDM, and he would love to find a place where he could feel the music enter into his soul and release all the tension he’s been holding. Plus, he would be with others who also share a passion for EDM, making the experience even better.

o   Emily – UF student: Emily says that she is able to manage her stress at an adequate level, but she would like to discover other means of doing so. She claims that her friends are always complaining about how they always get headaches or sleep deprivation from being so stressed. She wants to help them, but her methods aren’t enough and thinks that having them listen to some chill Pop would definitely ease their minds.

o   Dre – My uncle: My uncle recently graduated from college with his bachelor’s degree and a minor in music. It’s amazing to me how he always had a similar idea about implementing some sort of music program to help students perform better throughout their time in college. He says that mental health is a serious issue and more awareness needs to be sent out. According to him, I should have an event that samples what I am attempting to develop to gain the support of more students.

o   Mr. Andrews – Faculty member: Mr. Andrews is not so sure about my opportunity, but he believes it won’t hurt to go ahead and give it a try. He argues that everyone already listens to music and it really has no effect on stress management. It’s all about effective time management. “For students who are struggling with their emotional health, the Counseling and Wellness Center works hard to provide services to assist them. It’s the student’s responsibility to seek out help.”

o   Jason – Santa Fe student: “Musical therapy sounds great right about now! I’m honestly going through so much right now. It would be nice to just sit back, close my eyes, and breathe music.” Jason is a psychology major on a pre-health track, and he also works at a local hospital during the night. He thinks majority of students deserve the chance to put their lives on hold for a second to calm themselves. “Listening to music can be so soothing, or even so hype, that people will feel much better after.”

5.     Overall, I have received positive responses about my opportunity. Not everyone desires to go see a therapist in an office. They want something different and fun. I’ve also gained new viewpoints on how musical therapy could affect students’ health. One example that stood out to me was how Mr. Andrews mentioned that there are already tactics out there to help students. Therefore, I am now seeking the right way to answer the question: what makes your opportunity so different from the current therapeutic practices already established? With the recent information and feedback I’ve amassed, I still believe implementing my idea can do real wonders, but I may need to do some more research that will allow me to cater to as many students as possible.